Big drop in CBD parking tickets

THE number of parking fines issued in Townsville’s CBD has been dramatically reduced since the Townsville City Council slashed the cost of parking fines.

The latest statistics show that the council issued 4444 fines worth $ 137,830 between February this year and May this year.

For the same period last year the council issued 6524 fines worth $ 378,276.

From February 1 this year, fines for drivers who overstayed the limit on a paid car- park or did not buy a ticket were reduced to $ 31 from the previous rates of $ 37 and $ 75 for the two offences.

Division 3 Councillor AnnMaree- Greaney said the council had some of the cheapest CBD parking in Queensland at just $ 1 an hour.

“In January, council voted to slash the cost of parking fines by up to half for motorists who overstay paid parking spots or do not purchase a ticket,” Cr Greaney said.

“The changes – which came into effect on February 1, meant Townsville went from having some of the most expensive parking fines for comparable councils to the cheapest.

“No one likes to get a parking fine, but we listened to feedback from the community and slashed the cost from up to $ 75 down to $ 31.”

Townsville Chamber of Commerce president Debbie Rains, whose Escape Travel business is located in Flinders St, said the CBD continued to struggle with encouraging shopping and transactors into the region, so any measure to improve numbers was positive.

“It is a good thing ( to reduce the cost of parking fines) and the cost of parking fines was certainly a deterrent to shoppers considering to linger longer in the city,” she said. “It is encouraging that there has been a reduction in parking fine numbers for the CBD.

“I hope this is not a reflection that people are no longer shopping in the city.”

Flinders St trader Lucy Downes, of Gecko Interiors, said parking was one of the biggest issues.

“Parking is the biggest barrier to deciding whether to frequent the CBD,” she said. “The reduction in the parking fines is certainly a good thing.”

Michelle Konicek of Bluebell Trading in Flinders St said no one wanted a parking fine.

“Of course shoppers know they have to pay for parking but no one wants a fine,” she said. “It is positive that the fines have been reduced because paying $ 75 was dreadful. The parking inspectors in the CBD are pretty efficient.”

In its budget the council has announced motorists will be able to park for the first 15 minutes free in any two- hour parking space in the city centre.